Pope Juwius II (Itawian: Papa Giuwio II; Latin: Iuwius II) (5 December 1443 – 21 February 1513), born Giuwiano dewwa Rovere, and nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope"[1] and "The Warrior Pope", was head of de Cadowic Church and ruwer of de Papaw States from 1 November 1503 to his deaf in 1513.[2][3] His nine-year pontificate was marked by an active foreign powicy, ambitious buiwding projects, and patronage of de arts. His miwitary and dipwomatic interventions averted a take-over by France of de Itawian States (incwuding de Papaw States). He awso proved a buwwark against Venetian expansionism.[4]

Pope Juwius II commissioned de rebuiwding of St. Peter's Basiwica, Michewangewo's decoration and fuww-scawe painting of de ceiwing of de Sistine Chapew, and his discerning eye in hiring de artist Raphaew as a young man brought numerous improvements to de Vatican, uh-hah-hah-hah.[5]

Giuwiano dewwa Rovere Awbisowa, near Savona in de Repubwic of Genoa. He was of a nobwe but impoverished famiwy, de son of Raffaewo dewwa Rovere.[a][5] and Theodora Manerowa, a wady of Greek ancestry.[6] He had: Bartowomeo, a Franciscan friar who den became Bishop of Ferrara (1474–1494);[7] Leonardo; and Giovanni, Prefect of de City of Rome (1475–1501)[8] and Prince of Sorea and Senigawwia. He awso had a sister, Lucina (water de moder of Cardinaw Sisto Gara dewwa Rovere).[9] Giuwiano was educated by his uncwe, Fr. Francesco dewwa Rovere, O.F.M. among de Franciscans, who took him under his speciaw charge. He was water sent by dis same uncwe (who by dat time had become Minister Generaw of de Franciscans (1464–1469)), to de Franciscan friary in Perugia, where he couwd study de sciences at de University.[10][11][12]

Dewwa Rovere, as a young man, showed traits of being rough, coarse and given to bad wanguage. During de wate 1490s he became more cwosewy acqwainted wif Cardinaw Medici and his nephew (bof rewatives), and de two dynasties became uneasy awwies in de context of papaw powitics. Bof houses desired an end to de occupation of Itawian wands by de armies of France. He seemed wess endused by deowogy; rader Stradern argues his imagined heroes were miwitary weaders such as Frederic Cowonna.[13]

In 1474, Giuwiano wed an army to Todi, Spoweto, and Città di Castewwo as papaw wegate. He returned to Rome in May, in de company of Duke Federigo of Urbino, who promised his daughter in marriage to Giuwiano's broder Giovanni, who was subseqwentwy named Lord of Senigawwia and of Mondovì.[20] On 22 December 1475, Pope Sixtus IV created de new Archdiocese of Avignon, assigning to it as suffragan dioceses de Sees of Vaison, Cavaiwwon, and Carpentras. He appointed Giuwiano as de first archbishop. Giuwiano hewd de archdiocese untiw his water ewection to de papacy. In 1476 de office of Legate was added, and he weft Rome for France in February. On 22 August 1476 he founded de Cowwegium de Ruvere in Avignon, uh-hah-hah-hah. He returned to Rome on 4 October 1476.[21]

In 1479, Cardinaw Giuwiano served his one-year term as Chamberwain of de Cowwege of Cardinaws. In dis office he was responsibwe for cowwecting aww de revenues owed to de cardinaws as a group (from ad wimina visits, for exampwe) and for de proper disbursements of appropriate shares to cardinaws who were in service in de Roman Curia.[22]

Giuwiano was again named Papaw Legate to France on 28 Apriw 1480, and weft Rome on June 9. As Legate, his mission was dreefowd: to make peace between King Louis XI and de Emperor Maximiwian of Austria; to raise funds for a war against de Ottoman Turks; and to negotiate de rewease of Cardinaw Jean Bawue and Bishop Guiwwaume d'Harancourt (who by den had been imprisoned by Louis for eweven years on charges of treason). He reached Paris in September, and finawwy, on 20 December 1480, Louis gave orders dat Bawue be handed over to de Archpriest of Loudun, who had been commissioned by de Legate to receive him in de name of de Pope.[23] He returned to Rome on 3 February 1482.[24] Shortwy dereafter de sum of 300,000 ecus of gowd was received from de French in subsidy of de war.[25]

On 31 January 1483 Cardinaw dewwa Rovere was promoted suburbicarian Bishop of Ostia, in succession to Cardinaw Guiwwaume d'Estouteviwwe who had died on January 22.[26] It was de priviwege of de Bishop of Ostia to consecrate an ewected pope a bishop, if he were not awready a bishop. This actuawwy occurred in de case of Pius III (Francesco Todeschini-Piccowomini), who was ordained a priest on 30 September 1503 and consecrated a bishop on 1 October 1503 by Cardinaw Giuwiano dewwa Rovere.[27]

On 3 November 1483, Cardinaw dewwa Rovere was named Bishop of Bowogna and Papaw Legate, succeeding Cardinaw Francesco Gonzaga, who had died on 21 October. He hewd de diocese untiw 1502.[30] On 28 December 1484, Giuwiano participated in de investiture of his broder Giovanni as Captain-Generaw of de Papaw Armies by Pope Innocent VIII.[31]

By 1484 Giuwiano was wiving in de new pawazzo which he had constructed next to de Basiwica of de Twewve Apostwes, which he had awso restored. Pope Sixtus IV paid a formaw visit to de newwy restored buiwding on 1 May 1482, and it may be dat Giuwiano was awready in residence den, uh-hah-hah-hah.[32]

Sixtus IV died on 12 August 1484 and was succeeded by Innocent VIII. After de ceremonies of de ewection of Pope Innocent were compweted, de cardinaws were dismissed to deir own homes, but Cardinaw dewwa Rovere accompanied de new Pope to de Vatican Pawace, and was de onwy one to remain wif him. Ludwig Pastor qwotes de Fworentine ambassador as remarking, "[Pope Innocent] gives de impression of a man who is guided rader by de advice of oders dan by his own wights." The ambassador of Ferrara stated, "Whiwe wif his uncwe [Dewwa Rovere] had not de swightest infwuence, he now obtains whatever he wikes from de new Pope."[33] Dewwa Rovere was one of de five cardinaws named to de committee to make de arrangements for de Coronation, uh-hah-hah-hah.[34]

In 1485 Pope Innocent and Cardinaw dewwa Rovere (as de Pope's new principaw advisor), decided to invowve demsewves in de powiticaw affairs of de Kingdom of Napwes, in what was cawwed de Conspiracy of de Barons.[35] On Pawm Sunday, 20 March, Cardinaw dewwa Rovere, conceawing his activities from his principaw rivaw, Cardinaw Rodrigo Borgia (water Pope Awexander VI), rode out of Rome and took ship at Ostia, intending to head for Genoa and Avignon to prepare to wage war between de Church and de King of Napwes, Ferdinand I (Ferrante).[36] On 28 June de Pope sent back to Napwes de token gift of a pawfrey which symbowized de King of Napwes' submission, and demanded de fuww feudaw submission of de Kingdom of Napwes to de Roman Church according to wong-standing tradition, uh-hah-hah-hah. In a second attempt to overdrow de Aragonese monarchy, de Prince of Sawerno Antonewwo II dei Sanseverino, on de advice of Antonewwo Petrucci and Francesco Coppowa, gadered togeder severaw feudaw famiwies bewonging to de Guewph faction and supporting de Angevin cwaim to Napwes. Antonewwo de Sanseverino was de broder-in-waw of Cardinaw dewwa Rovere's broder Giovanni, who was a nobwe of Napwes because of his fief of Sora. The principaw compwaints of de barons were de heavy taxation imposed by Ferdinand to finance his war against de Saracens, who had occupied Bari in 1480; and de vigorous efforts of Ferrante to centrawize de administrative apparatus of de kingdom, moving it away from a feudaw to a bureaucratic system. The barons seized L'Aqwiwa, and appeawed to de Pope for assistance as deir feudaw overword. Genoa and Venice supported de Papacy, whiwe Fworence and Miwan opted for Napwes. In Rome de Orsini awwied demsewves wif Ferrante's son Awfonso, and derefore de Cowonna supported de Pope in de street fighting dat ensued.[37] Ferrante reacted by seizing de fiefs of de barons, and, when de two parties met to negotiate a settwement, Ferrante had dem arrested, and eventuawwy executed. The prestige of de dewwa Rovere famiwy was seriouswy damaged, and in an attempt to excuwpate himsewf Pope Innocent began to widdraw his support for dem. Peace was restored in 1487, but Innocent VIII's papacy was discredited.[38]

On 23 March 1486, de pope sent Giuwiano as Papaw Legate to de Court of King Charwes VIII of France to ask for hewp. A French entourage arrived in Rome on 31 May, but immediatewy rewations broke down wif de Pro-Spanish Cardinaw Rodrigo. But Ferrante's army decided de pope's humiwiation, Innocent backed down and on 10 August signed a treaty. Innocent wooked for new awwies and settwed on de Repubwic of Fworence.[citation needed]

On 2 March 1487, Giuwiano was appointed wegate in de March of Ancona and to de Repubwic of Venice. He encouraged trade wif de sizeabwe Turkish community at dese ports. But urgent reports arrived from de King of Hungary dat de Ottoman Suwtan was dreatening Itawy. He returned on 8 Apriw 1488, and again took up his residence in de Pawazzo Cowonna next to de Basiwica of de XII Apostwes.[39]

In de Concwave of 1492, fowwowing de deaf of Innocent VIII, Cardinaw dewwa Rovere was supported for ewection by bof King Charwes VIII of France and by Charwes' enemy King Ferrante of Napwes. It was reported dat France had deposited 200,000 ducats into a bank account to promote dewwa Rovere's candidature, whiwe de Repubwic of Genoa had deposited 100,000 ducats to de same end. Dewwa Rovere, however, had enemies, bof because of de infwuence he had exercised over Pope Sixtus IV, and because of his French sympadies. His rivaws incwuded Cardinaw Ardicio dewwa Porta and Cardinaw Ascanio Sforza, bof patronised by de Miwanese.[40] Kewwogg, Baynes & Smif, continue, a "rivawry had, however, graduawwy grown up between [dewwa Rovere] and [den-Cardinaw] Rodrigo Borgia, and on de deaf of Innocent VIII in 1492 Borgia by means of a secret agreement and simony wif Ascanio Sforza succeeded in being ewected by a warge majority, under de name of Pope Awexander VI." Dewwa Rovere, jeawous and angry, hated Borgia for being ewected over him.[41]

On 31 August 1492 de new Pope, Awexander VI, hewd a consistory in which he named six cardinaw wegates, one of whom was Giuwiano dewwa Rovere, who was appointed Legate in Avignon, uh-hah-hah-hah.[42] Cardinaw Giuwiano was increasingwy awarmed by de powerfuw position assumed by Cardinaw Ascanio Sforza and de Miwanese faction in de Court of Awexander VI, and after Christmas Day in December 1492 chose to widdraw to his fortress in de town and diocese of Ostia, at de mouf of de Tiber River.[43] In dat same monf, Federico of Awtamura, de second son of King Ferdinando (Ferrante) of Napwes was in Rome to pay homage to de new pope, and he reported back to his fader dat Awexander and Cardinaw Sforza were working on estabwishing new awwiances, which wouwd upset Ferrante's security arrangements. Ferrante derefore decided to use Dewwa Rovere as de center of an anti-Sforza party at de papaw court, a prospect made easier since Ferrante had prudentwy repaired his rewations wif Cardinaw Giuwiano after de War of de Barons. He awso warned King Ferdinand and Queen Isabewwa of Spain dat Awexander was intriguing wif de French, which brought an immediate visit of a Spanish ambassador to de Pope. In June Federico of Awtamura was back in Rome, and hewd conversations wif Dewwa Rovere, assuring him of Neapowitan protection, uh-hah-hah-hah. On 24 Juwy 1493, Cardinaw dewwa Rovere returned to Rome (despite de warnings of Virginius Orsini) and dined wif de Pope.[44]

Dewwa Rovere at once determined to take refuge from Borgia's wraf at Ostia. On 23 Apriw 1494, de Cardinaw took ship, having pwaced his fortress at Ostia in de hands of his broder Giovanni dewwa Rovere, and travewwed to Genoa and den to Avignon, uh-hah-hah-hah. He was summoned by King Charwes VIII to Lyons, where de two met on 1 June 1494.[45] He joined Charwes VIII of France who undertook to take Itawy back from de Borgias by miwitary force.[6] The King entered Rome wif his army on 31 December 1495, wif Giuwiano dewwa Rovere riding on one side and Cardinaw Ascanio Sforza riding on de oder. The King made severaw demands of Pope Awexander, one of which was dat de Castew S. Angewo be turned over to French forces.[46] This Pope Awexander refused to do, cwaiming dat Cardinaw dewwa Rovere wouwd occupy it and become master of Rome.[47] Charwes soon conqwered Napwes, making his triumphaw entry on 22 February 1495, but he was forced to remove most of his army. As he was returning to de norf, his army was defeated at de Battwe of Foronovo on 5 Juwy 1495, and his Itawian adventure came to an end. The wast remnants of de French invasion were gone by November 1496.[48] Ostia, however, remained in French hands untiw March 1497, making difficuwties in de provisioning of de city of Rome.[49]

Back in Lyon in 1496, Charwes VIII and Giuwiano dewwa Rovere were pwanning anoder war. Giuwiano was travewwing back and forf from Lyon to Avignon, raising troops. It was being reported in France by June 1496, moreover, dat King Charwes intended to have a papaw ewection in France and to have Cardinaw dewwa Rovere ewected pope.[50]

In March 1497 Pope Awexander deprived Cardinaw dewwa Rovere of his benefices as an enemy of de Apostowic See, and Giovanni dewwa Rovere of de Prefecture of Rome. His action against de Cardinaw was done not onwy widout de consent of de cardinaws in consistory, but in fact over deir vigorous objections.[51] By June, however, de Pope was in negotiations wif de Cardinaw for a reconciwiation and return to Rome.[52] His benefices were restored to him after an apparent reconciwiation wif de Pope in August 1498.[53]

King Charwes VIII of France, de wast of de senior branch of de House of Vawois, died on 7 Apriw 1498 of a sewf-infwicted bwow to de head. When Cesare Borgia passed drough soudern France in October 1498 on his way to meet King Louis XII for his investiture as Duke of Vawentinois, he stopped in Avignon and was magnificentwy entertained by Cardinaw dewwa Rovere.[54] They den moved on to meet de King at Chinon, where Cesare Borgia fuwfiwwed one of de terms of de treaty between Louis and Awexander by producing de red hat of a cardinaw, which had been promised for de Archbishop of Rouen, Georges d'Amboise. It was Cardinaw dewwa Rovere, de Papaw Legate, who pwaced de hat on Amboise's head.[55] Dewwa Rovere, who was trying to repair his rewations wif de House of Borgia, was awso invowved in anoder cwause of de treaty, de marriage between Cesare Borgia and Carwotta, de daughter of de King of Napwes, who had been brought up at de French Court. Dewwa Rovere was in favor of de marriage, but, according to Pope Awexander, King Louis XII was not, and, most especiawwy, Carwotta was stubbornwy refusing her consent. Awexander's pwan of securing a royaw drone for his son feww drough, and he was very angry.[56]

The marriage produced a compwete vowta facie in Pope Awexander. He became an open partisan of de French and Venice, and accepted deir goaw, de destruction of de Sforza howd on Miwan, uh-hah-hah-hah. On 14 Juwy, Cardinaw Ascanio Sforza, dewwa Rovere's sworn enemy, fwed Rome wif aww his property and friends.[57] Meanwhiwe, de French army crossed de Awps and captured Awessandria in de Piedmont. On 1 September 1499 Lodovico Iw Moro fwed Miwan, and on 6 September de city surrendered to de French. Cardinaw Giuwiano was in de King's entourage when he entered Miwan on 6 October.[58]

Pope Awexander den turned his attention, stimuwated by de Venetians, to de dreat of de Osmanwi Turks. In de autumn of 1499 he cawwed for a crusade, and sought aid and money from aww Christendom. The ruwers of Europe paid wittwe attention, but to show his sincerity Awexander imposed a tide on aww de residents of de Papaw States and a tide on de cwergy of de entire worwd. A wist of cardinaws and deir incomes, drawn up for de occasion, shows dat Cardinaw dewwa Rovere was de second-richest cardinaw, wif an annuaw income of 20,000 ducats.[59]

Anoder break in rewations between Pope Awexander and Cardinaw Giuwiano came at de end of 1501 or de beginning of 1502, when Giuwiano was transferred from de Bishopric of Bowogna to de diocese of Vercewwi.[60]

On 21 June 1502, Pope Awexander sent his secretary, Francesco Troche (Trochia), and Cardinaw Amanieu d'Awbret (broder-in-waw of Cesare Borgia) to Savona to seize Cardinaw dewwa Rovere by steawf and bring him back to Rome as qwickwy as possibwe and turn him over to de Pope. The kidnapping party returned to Rome on 12 Juwy, widout having accompwished its mission, uh-hah-hah-hah.[61] On 20 Juwy 1502, Cardinaw Giovanni Battista Ferrari died in his rooms at de Vatican Pawace; he had been poisoned, and his property was cwaimed by de Borgia.[62] On 3 January 1503, Cardinaw Orsini was arrested and sent to de Castew S. Angewo; on 22 February he died dere, poisoned on orders of Awexander VI.[63]

A veteran of de Sacred Cowwege, dewwa Rovere had won infwuence for de ewection of Pope Pius III wif de hewp of Fworentine Ambassador to Napwes, Lorenzo de' Medici. In spite of a viowent temper dewwa Rovere succeeded by dexterous dipwomacy in winning de support of Cesare Borgia, whom he won over by his promise of money and continued papaw backing for Borgia powicies in de Romagna.[64] This ewection was, in Ludwig von Pastor's view, certainwy achieved by means of bribery wif money, but awso wif promises. "Giuwiano, whom de popuwar voice seemed to indicate as de onwy possibwe pope, was as unscrupuwous as any of his cowweagues in de means which he empwoyed. Where promises and persuasions were unavaiwing, he did not hesitate to have recourse to bribery."[65] Indeed, his ewection on 1 November 1503 took onwy a few hours, and de onwy two votes he did not receive were his own and de one of Georges d'Amboise, his most vigorous opponent and de favourite of de French monarchy.[66] In de end, as in aww papaw ewections, de vote is made unanimous after de weading candidate has achieved de reqwired number of votes for ewection, uh-hah-hah-hah.

Giuwiano Dewwa Rovere denceforf took de name of his fourf century predecessor, Juwius I, and was pope for nine years, from 1503 to 1513. From de beginning, Juwius II set out to defeat de various powers dat chawwenged his temporaw audority; in a series of compwicated stratagems he first succeeded in rendering it impossibwe for de Borgias to retain deir power over de Papaw States. Indeed, on de day of his ewection, he decwared:

I wiww not wive in de same rooms as de Borgias wived. He [Awexander VI] desecrated de Howy Church as none before. He usurped de papaw power by de deviw's aid, and I forbid under de pain of excommunication anyone to speak or dink of Borgia again, uh-hah-hah-hah. His name and memory must be forgotten, uh-hah-hah-hah. It must be crossed out of every document and memoriaw. His reign must be obwiterated. Aww paintings made of de Borgias or for dem must be covered over wif bwack crepe. Aww de tombs of de Borgias must be opened and deir bodies sent back to where dey bewong—to Spain, uh-hah-hah-hah.[67]

Oders indicate dat his decision was taken on 26 November 1507, not in 1503.[68] The Borgia Apartments were turned to oder uses. The Sawa dei Papi was redecorated by two pupiws of Raphaew by order of Pope Leo X.[69] The rooms were used to accommodate de Emperor Charwes V on his visit to de Vatican after de Sack of Rome, and subseqwentwy dey became de residence of de Cardinaw-nephew and den de Secretary of State.[70]

Juwius used his infwuence to reconciwe two powerfuw Roman famiwies, de Orsini and Cowonna. Decrees were made in de interests of de Roman nobiwity, in whose shoes de new pope now stepped. Being dus secure in Rome and de surrounding country, he set himsewf de task to expew de Repubwic of Venice from Faenza, Rimini, and de oder towns and fortresses of Itawy which it occupied after de deaf of Pope Awexander.[6][71] In 1504, finding it impossibwe to succeed wif de Doge of Venice by remonstrance, he brought about a union of de confwicting interests of France and de Howy Roman Empire, and sacrificed temporariwy to some extent de independence of Itawy to concwude wif dem an offensive and defensive awwiance against Venice.[72][73] The combination was, however, at first wittwe more dan nominaw, and was not immediatewy effective in compewwing de Venetians to dewiver up more dan a few unimportant pwaces in de Romagna.[6] Wif a campaign in 1506, he personawwy wed an army to Perugia and Bowogna, freeing de two papaw cities from deir despots, Giampowo Bagwioni and Giovanni II Bentivogwio.[6]

In December 1503, Juwius issued a dispensation awwowing de future Henry VIII of Engwand to marry Caderine of Aragon; Caderine had previouswy been briefwy married to Henry's owder broder Prince Ardur, who had died, but Henry water argued dat she had remained a virgin for de five monds of de marriage. Some twenty years water, when Henry was attempting to wed Anne Boweyn (since his son by Caderine of Aragon survived onwy a few days, and two of her sons were stiwwborn, and derefore he had no mawe heir), he sought to have his marriage annuwwed, cwaiming dat de dispensation of Pope Juwius shouwd never have been issued. The retractation of de dispensation was refused by Pope Cwement VII.[74]

The Buww entitwed Ea qwae pro bono pacis issued on January 24, 1506, confirmed papaw approvaw of de mare cwausum powicy being pursued by Spain and Portugaw amid deir expworations, and approved de changes of de 1494 Treaty of Tordesiwwas to previous papaw buwws. In de same year, de Pope founded de Swiss Guard to provide a constant corps of sowdiers to protect de Vatican City. As part of de Renaissance programme of reestabwishing de gwory of antiqwity for de Christian capitaw, Rome, Juwius II took considerabwe effort to present himsewf as a sort of emperor-pope, capabwe of weading a Latin-Christian empire. On Pawm Sunday, 1507, "Juwius II entered Rome . . . bof as a second Juwius Caesar, heir to de majesty of Rome's imperiaw gwory, and in de wikeness of Christ, whose vicar de pope was, and who in dat capacity governed de universaw Roman Church."[75] Juwius, who modewwed himsewf after his namesake Caesar, wouwd personawwy wead his army across de Itawian peninsuwa under de imperiaw war-cry, "Drive out de barbarians." Yet, despite de imperiaw rhetoric, de campaigns were highwy wocawised.[76] Perugia vowuntariwy surrendered in March 1507 to direct controw, as it had awways been widin de Papaw States; it was in dese endeavors he had enwisted French mercenaries.[77] Urbino's magnificent court pawace was infiwtrated by French sowdiers in de pay of de Duke of Gonzaga; de Montefewtro Conspiracy against his woyaw cousins earned de occupying armies de Pope's undying hatred.[78] Juwius rewied upon Guidobawdo's hewp to raise his nephew and heir Francesco Maria dewwa Rovere; de intricate web of nepotism hewped secure de Itawian Papacy.[79] Moreover, de Pope's interest in Urbino was widewy known in de French court.[80] Juwius weft a spy at de Urbino Pawace, possibwy Gaweotto Franciotti dewwa Rovere, Cardinaw San Pietro, to watch de Mantua stabwes in totaw secret; de secuwar progress of de Papaw Curia was growing in audority and significance. In Rome, de Pope watched from his private chapew to see how his court behaved. This was age of Renaissance conspiracy.[81]

In addition to an active miwitary powicy, de new pope personawwy wed troops into battwe on at weast two occasions, de first to expew Giovanni Bentivogwio from Bowogna (17 August 1506 – 23 March 1507), which was achieved successfuwwy wif de assistance of de Duchy of Urbino. The second was an attempt to recover Ferrara for de Papaw States (1 September 1510 – 29 June 1512).[82] In 1508, Juwius was fortuitouswy abwe to form de League of Cambrai wif Louis XII, King of France, Maximiwian I, Howy Roman Emperor, and Ferdinand II, King of Aragon.[83] The League fought against de Repubwic of Venice.[b] Among oder dings, Juwius wanted possession of Venetian Romagna; Emperor Maximiwian I wanted Friuwi and Veneto; Louis XII wanted Cremona; and Ferdinand II desired de Apuwian ports.[71][84] This war was a confwict in what was cowwectivewy known as de "Itawian Wars". In de spring of 1509, de Repubwic of Venice was pwaced under an interdict by Juwius,[85] In May 1509 Juwius sent troops to fight against de Venetians who had occupied parts of de Romagna winning back de Papaw States in a decisive battwe near Cremona.[6] During de War of de Howy League awwiances kept changing: in 1510 Venice and France switched pwaces, and by 1513, Venice had joined France.[86] The achievements of de League soon outstripped de primary intention of Juwius. In one singwe battwe, de Battwe of Agnadewwo on 14 May 1509, de dominion of Venice in Itawy was practicawwy wost to His Howiness. Yet neider de King of France nor de Howy Roman Emperor were satisfied wif merewy effecting de purposes of de Pope, de watter found it necessary to enter into an arrangement wif de Venetians to defend himsewf from dose who immediatewy before had been his awwies.[87] The Venetians, on making humbwe submission, were absowved at de beginning of 1510, and shortwy afterward France was pwaced under papaw interdict.[88]

Attempts to cause a rupture between France and Engwand proved unsuccessfuw; on de oder hand, at a synod convened by Louis at Tours in September 1510, de French bishops widdrew from papaw obedience, and resowved, wif de Emperor's co-operation, to seek dedronement of de pope. Wif some courage Juwius marched his army to Bowogna and den against de French to Mirandowa.[6] In November 1511, a counciw met at Pisa, cawwed by rebew cardinaws wif support from de French king and de Empire, dey demanded de deposition of Charwes II at Pisa.[89] Despite being seriouswy he refused to shave showing utter contempt for de hated French occupation, uh-hah-hah-hah. "per vendicarsi et diceva...anco fuora scazato ew re Ludovico Franza d'Itawia."[90]

Whereupon Juwius entered into anoder Howy League of 1511: in awwiance wif Ferdinand II of Aragon and de Venetians he conspired against de Gawwican wiberties. In short time, bof Henry VIII, King of Engwand (1509–47), and Maximiwian I awso joined de Howy League of 1511 against France. Louis XII defeated de awwiance at Battwe of Ravenna on 11 Apriw 1512. When a desperate battwe fewwed over 20,000 men in a bwoodbaf de Pope commanded his protege, a newwy-reweased young Cardinaw Medici to re-take Fworence wif his Spanish army. The rescue of de city on 1 September 1512 saved Rome from anoder invasion, ousting Soderini, and returning de dynastic ruwe of de Medici. Juwius had seemingwy restored fortuna or controw by exercising his manwy vertu, just as Machiavewwi wrote. This re-asserted strong rewations between Fworence and Rome; a wasting wegacy of Juwius II. Yet Machiavewwi and his medods wouwd not outwast Juwius' Papacy.[91] Juwius hired Swiss mercenaries to fight against de French in Miwan in May 1512.[72][92]

When Swiss mercenaries came to de Pope's aid, de French army widdrew across de Awps into Savoy. The papacy gained controw of Parma and Piacenza in centraw Itawy, but now Spain took an interest in having occupying troops on de peninsuwa. During de wast monds of his wife, Juwius II engaged in negotiations wif Ferdinand's dipwomats, who obtained from him de ideowogicaw back-up necessary for Ferdinand II of Aragon's invasion of Navarre in de form of a number of papaw buwws. In 1512 de French were driven across de Awps, but it was at de cost of de occupation of de peninsuwa by de Pope's enemies. Awdough Juwius had securewy estabwished papaw audority in de region immediatewy around Rome, he was as far as ever from reawizing his dream of an independent Itawian kingdom.

In May 1512 a generaw or ecumenicaw counciw, de Fiff Counciw of de Lateran, was hewd in Rome. According to an oaf taken on his ewection to observe de Ewectoraw Capituwations of de Concwave of October 1513,[93] Juwius had sworn to summon a generaw counciw, but it had been dewayed, he affirmed, because of de occupation of Itawy by his enemies.[94] The reaw stimuwus came from a fawse counciw which took pwace in 1511, cawwed de Conciwiabuwum Pisanum, inspired by Louis XII and Maximiwian I as a tactic to weaken Juwius, and which dreatened Juwius II wif deposition, uh-hah-hah-hah.[95] Juwius' repwy was de issuing of de buww Non sini gravi of 18 Juwy 1511, which fixed de date of 19 Apriw 1512 for de opening of his own counciw.[96] The Counciw actuawwy convened on 3 May, and Paris de Grassis reports dat de crowd at de basiwica was estimated at 50,000.[97] It hewd its first working session on 10 May.[98] In de dird pwenary session, on 3 December 1512, Juwius attended, dough he was iww; but he wanted to witness and receive de formaw adhesion of de Emperor Maximiwian to de Lateran Counciw and his repudiation of de Conciwiabuwum Pisanum. This was one of Juwius' great triumphs. The Pope was again in attendance at de fourf session on 10 December, dis time to hear de accrediting of de Venetian Ambassador as de Serene Repubwic's representative at de Counciw; he den had de wetter of King Louis XI (of 27 November 1461), in which he announced de revocation of de Pragmatic Sanction, read out to de assembwy, and demanded dat aww persons who accepted de Pragmatic Sanction appear before de Counciw widin sixty days to justify deir conduct. This was directed against King Louis XII.[99]

The fiff session was hewd on 16 February, but Pope Juwius was too iww to attend. Cardinaw Raffaewe Riario, de Dean of de Cowwege of Cardinaws and Bishop of Ostia, presided. The Bishop of Como, Scaramuccia Trivuwzio, den read from de puwpit a buww of Pope Juwius, Si summus rerum, dated dat very day and containing widin its text de compwete buww of 14 January 1505, Cum tam divino. The buww was submitted to de Counciw faders for deir consideration and ratification, uh-hah-hah-hah. Juwius wanted to remind everyone of his wegiswation on papaw concwaves, in particuwar against Simony, and to fix his reguwations firmwy in canon waw so dat dey couwd not be dispensed or ignored. Juwius was fuwwy aware dat his deaf was imminent, and dough he had been a witness to a good deaw of Simony at papaw concwaves and had been a practitioner himsewf, he was determined to stamp out de abuse.[100] The reading of de buww Cum tam divino became a reguwar feature of de first day of every concwave.

On de Vigiw of Pentecost in May 1512, Pope Juwius, aware dat he was seriouswy iww and dat his heawf was faiwing, despite comments on de part of some cardinaws about how weww he wooked, remarked to Paris de Grassis, "They are fwattering me; I know better; my strengf diminishes from day to day and I cannot wive much wonger. Therefore I beg you not to expect me at Vespers or at Mass from henceforf."[101] Nonedewess he continued his restwess activities, incwuding Masses, visits to churches, and audiences. On 24 June, in de morning Paris found de Pope debiwem et semifebricantem.[102] On Christmas Eve, Juwius ordered Paris to summon de Cowwege of Cardinaws and de Sacristan of de Apostowic Pawace, qwia erat sic infirmus, qwod non speraret posse diu supravivere.[103] From den untiw 6 January he was confined to bed, and most of de time wif a fever; he had wost his appetite, but de doctors were unabwe to diagnose his wanguor. On 4 February he had an extensive conversation wif Paris concerning de arrangements for his funeraw.

Pope Juwius was reported to be seriouswy iww in a dispatch received in Venice on 10 February 1513.[104] He received Howy Communion and was granted de pwenary induwgence on de morning of 19 February, according to de Venetian Ambassador. On de 20f, according to Paris de Grassis, he received Howy Communion from de hands of Cardinaw Raffaewe Riario, de Camerwengo. He died of a fever in de night of 20–21 February 1513.[105]

In de evening of 21 February, Paris de Grassis conducted de funeraw of Juwius II, even dough de Canons of de Vatican Basiwica and de beneficiati refused to cooperate. The body was pwaced for a time at de Awtar of Saint Andrew in de Basiwica, and was den carried by de Imperiaw Ambassador, de papaw Datary, and two of Paris' assistants to de awtar of de Chapew of Pope Sixtus, where de Vicar of de Vatican Basiwica performed de finaw absowution, uh-hah-hah-hah. At de dird hour of de evening de body was waid in a sepuwcher between de awtar and de waww of de tribune.[106]

Beyond Juwius II's powiticaw and miwitary achievements, he enjoys a titwe to honor in his patronage of art, architecture, and witerature.[109] He did much to improve and beautify de city.

Earwy in his papacy, Juwius decided to revive de pwan for repwacing de diwpidated Constantianian basiwica of St. Peter's. The idea was not his, but originawwy dat of Nichowas V, who had commissioned designs from Bernardo Rossewwino. Oder more pressing probwems distracted de attention of Nichowas and subseqwent popes, but Juwius was not de sort of person to be distracted once he had settwed on an idea, in dis case, for de greatest buiwding on earf, for de gwory of Saint Peter and himsewf. In de competition for a buiwding pwan, de design of Rossewwino was immediatewy rejected as being out of date. A second design was submitted by Giuwiano da Sangawwo, an owd friend of Juwius, who had worked on severaw projects for him before, incwuding de pawazzo at S. Pietro in Vincowi, and who had weft Rome wif Juwius when he fwed de wraf of Awexander VI in 1495. Through Cardinaw dewwa Rovere, Sangawwo had presented Charwes VIII a pwan for a pawace, and in 1496 he had made a tour of de architecturaw monuments of Provence,[110] returning to his native Fworence in 1497.[111] His proposaws for S. Peter's, however, were not accepted despite what he bewieved to be a promise, and he retired in anger to Fworence.[112]

On 18 Apriw 1506 Pope Juwius II waid de foundation stone of de new St. Peter's Basiwica for de successfuw architect, Donato Bramante. However, he awso began de demowition of de owd St. Peter's Basiwica, which had stood for more dan 1,100 years. He was a friend and patron of Bramante and Raphaew, and a patron of Michewangewo. Severaw of Michewangewo's greatest works (incwuding de painting of de ceiwing of de Sistine Chapew) were commissioned by Juwius.

Long before he became Pope, Juwius had a viowent temper. He often treated subordinates and peopwe who worked for him very badwy. His manner was gruff and coarse, just as his peasant-wike sense of humour. Oders suggest dat Juwius had wittwe sense of humor. Ludwig von Pastor wrote, "Paris de Grassis, his Master of Ceremonies, who has handed on to us so many characteristic features of his master's wife, says dat he hardwy ever jested. He was generawwy absorbed in deep and siwent dought...."[113]

To most historians Juwius was manwy and viriwe, an energetic man of action, whose courage saved de Papacy.[114] There was a sense dat war caused him serious iwwness, exhaustion and fatigue, dat most popes couwd not have widstood. To many Juwius II has been described as de best in an era of exceptionawwy bad popes: Awexander VI was eviw and despotic, exposing de future Juwius II to a number of assassination attempts dat reqwired tremendous fortitude.

Juwius II is usuawwy depicted wif a beard, after his appearance in de cewebrated portrait by Raphaew, de artist whom he first met in 1509. However, de pope onwy wore his beard from 27 June 1511 to March 1512, as a sign of mourning at de woss of de city of Bowogna by de Papaw States. He was neverdewess de first pope since antiqwity to grow faciaw hair, a practice oderwise forbidden by canon waw since de 13f century. The pope's hirsute chin may have raised severe, even vuwgar criticism, as at one Bowogna banqwet hewd on 1510 at which papaw wegate Marco Cornaro was present. In overturning de ban on beards Pope Juwius chawwenged Gregorian conventionaw wisdom in dangerous times. Juwius shaved his beard again before his deaf, and his immediate successors were cwean-shaven; nonedewess Pope Cwement VII sported a beard when mourning de sack of Rome. Thenceforward, aww popes were bearded untiw de deaf of Pope Innocent XII in 1700.

The frescoes on de ceiwing of Stanza d'Ewiodoro in de stanze of Raphaew depict de traumatic events in 1510-11, when de Papacy regained its freedom. Awdough Raphaew's originaw was wost, it was dought to rewate cwosewy to de personaw iconography of Stanza dewwa Segnatura, commissioned by Pope Juwius himsewf. The Lateran Counciw dat formed de Howy League marked a high point in his personaw success. Saved by an awwegory to de Expuwsion of Hewidorus, de French gone, Juwius cowwapsed once again in wate 1512, very seriouswy iww once more.

Juwius was not de first pope to have fadered chiwdren before being ewevated to high office, and is bewieved to have had a daughter born to Lucrezia Normanni in 1483 - after he had been made a cardinaw.[c]Fewice dewwa Rovere survived into aduwdood.[115] Shortwy after Fewice was born, Juwius arranged for Lucrezia to marry Bernardino de Cupis, Chamberwain to Juwius's cousin, Cardinaw Girowamo Basso dewwa Rovere.[116]

Despite producing an iwwegitimate daughter (and having at weast one mistress), it was suggested dat Juwius may have had homosexuaw wovers - awdough dere is wittwe evidence dat de pope was ever sexuawwy active. His confrontationaw stywe inevitabwy created enemies and sodomy was de "common currency of insuwt and innuendo".[117] Such accusations were made to discredit him, but perhaps in so doing his accusers were attacking a perceived weakness. The Venetians, who were impwacabwy opposed to de pope's new miwitary powicy, were among de most vociferous opponents; notabwe among dem was diarist Girowamo Priuwi,[118] and de historian Marino Sanudo.[119]Erasmus awso impropriated sexuaw misconduct in his 1514 diawogues "Juwius Excwuded from Heaven"; a deme picked up in de denunciation made at de conciwiabuwum of Pisa.[120] Criticism was furdermore made of de sinister infwuence exerted by his advisor, Francesco Awidosi, whom Juwius had made a cardinaw in 1505. However, it is wikewy dat de cwoseness was down to de fact dat he simpwy knew how to handwe him weww.[117] This sexuaw reputation survived Juwius, and de accusation continued to be made widout reservation by Protestant opponents in deir powemics against "papism" and Cadowic decadence.[121] The French writer Phiwippe de Mornay (1549-1623) accused aww Itawians of being sodomites, but added specificawwy: "This horror is ascribed to good Juwius."[122]

Juwius features prominentwy in The Prince of Niccowò Machiavewwi, bof as an enemy of weading protagonist Cesare Borgia, and as an exampwe of an eccwesiasticaw prince who consowidates audority and wisewy fowwows Fortuna.

Barbara Tuchman, in her book The March of Fowwy: From Troy to Vietnam, offers a narrative of Juwius II's career.[123] Her overaww assessment of Juwius is strongwy negative,[where?] and she attributes de Protestant Reformation to his and oder Renaissance popes' abuses.[123]

On 30 November 2003 Cardinaw Angewo Sodano, den Secretary of State of de Howy See and since 2005 Dean of Cowwege of Cardinaws of de Roman Cadowic Church, preceded in a Eucharistic concewebration commemorating de fiff centenary of de ewection of Pope Juwius II in de Cadedraw Basiwica of Savona. In his sermon[124] he expwained dat to pay homage to his great Predecessor, Pope John Pauw II had sent him as his Legate. Admitting dat it is difficuwt to understand de medods of government of dat time, Sowano stressed dat de work of de Bishop of Rome shouwd be seen in its proper context. Praising Juwius for entrusting de construction of de St Peter's Basiwica in its present form to de genius of Bramante in 1505, he said it is certain dat Juwius wiked to dink big and wanted de Church of Rome to shine before de worwd wif a visibwe beauty too. The Cardinaw stated 'How can we faiw to dink of him when we contempwate de grandeur of St. Peter's Basiwica?' and 'How can we forget dat it was he who created in 1506 de Swiss Guard Corps, wif de characteristic uniform dat we stiww admire today?' The Cardinaw cawwed Pope Juwius II 'a Pope who strove to serve de Church and to sacrifice himsewf for her untiw de Lord cawwed him at de age of 72.'

^ Untiw de 20f century, a Cardinaw did not have to be in major Howy Orders (Bishop, Priest, Deacon—which invowved de vow of cewibacy), unwess he hoped to vote in a papaw concwave. Even den, he couwd be dispensed.

^Bwech, Benjamin; Dowiner, Roy. (2008). The Sistene Secrets. New York, NY: HarperCowwins Pubwishers. p. 106. ISBN978-0-06-146904-6. The term 'terribwe' was first appwied by Juwius himsewf to Michaewangewo, and onwy water to de Pope by oders: Pastor, VI, pp. 214–215.

^"Accompanying de young king on his miwitary campaign, [dewwa Rovere] entered Rome awong wif him, and endeavoured to instigate de convocation of a counciw to inqwire into de conduct of de pope wif a view to [deposing him], but Awexander, having gained a friend in Charwes VIII's minister [Guiwwaume] Briçonnet, Bishop of S. Mawo, by de offer of a cardinaw's hat, succeeded in counterworking [defeating] de machinations of his enemy [dewwa Rovere], de deaf of [Pope] Awexander VI in 1503, where his son Cesare Borgia wished to be ewevated, feww iww at de same time Dewwa Rovere supported de candidature of Cardinaw Piccowomini of Miwan, who was consecrated under de name of Pope Pius III on 8 October 1503,…den suffering from an incurabwe mawady, of which he died in wittwe more dan a monf afterward." BewfordCwarke